there are so many benefits in small schools: spiritual focus, low student-teacher ratio, long-term academic achievement, a curriculum that is designed for small schools, community service opportunities, easier to incorporate differentiation in student learning, and a high number of students who not only attend college, but graduate. There are so many advantages! I am a product of small schools. I remember fondly being able to listen in to other classes and begin to grasp a concept before it was formally taught. Our small schools do not need to be embarrassed—they can proudly tout their successes. The North American Division has given us several ideas on how to market Adventist education to our churches and communities (see sidebar). We need to do more to make our school board, pastors and teachers aware of the need to market the school and give them tools they can adapt and use in their communities. How can people who don’t have an Adventist school in their area still support education? They can pray for our schools. They can support—financially and in other ways— the local academies in the conferences. Many churches choose to partner with a nearby school and provide financial support. And, most importantly, they can reach out and befriend the young
people in their churches to encourage them and include them as vital members of the church, whether or not they attend Adventist schools. What are you excited about for the coming year? Curriculum always excites me. This year I’m incredibly excited to see the revision of our Language Arts curriculum, Pathways 2.0, introduced into our schools. To see the faith connections that have been embedded and to see a program specifically designed for Adventist schools that meets the North American Division English Language Arts standards excites me. I’m also looking forward to seeing what the second year of our Encounter Bible curriculum brings to our students. Mostly, I’m looking forward to seeing young people changed and accepting Jesus into their lives.
LOUANN HOWARD is education director for the Mid-America Union.
North American Division Education Resources The NAD Office of Education has a wealth of resources, some geared specifically toward educators employed at NAD-accredited institutions and some available to the general public. Here are a few.
For educators employed at NAD-accredited institutions • Online store (adventist-education.myshopify.com) Great resources at NAD-negotiated prices [order before Sept. 16] • Britannica digital resources (adventisteducation. org/resources/britannica-school) Three levels of online encyclopedia, images, eBooks [requires login] • Marketing your school (adventisteducation.org/ pc.html) Church bulletins/inserts, customizable post card, and brochures • Technology blog and website (adventisteducation.org) Resources and recommendations
Resources for Sabbath school, homeschoolers, families and public educators • REACH (adventisteducation.org) Reaching to Educate All Children for Heaven [resources and training] • Be Like Jesus Companion (nadeducation.org/ be-like-jesus-companion) Early childhood activities and lessons, Bible stories, stories about Adventist pioneers • Music (finearts.adventisteducation.org/the-basics. html) Lesson content for recorder and Christian heritage hymns • Adventist Learning Community (adventistlearningcommunity.org) Professional development courses and resources for administrators, teachers, pastors, chaplains, members and seekers • Teacher Bulletin (teacherbulletin.org) Integrated teaching units, tips for administrators, Adventist history, Spirit of Prophecy resources • CIRCLE (adventist.org) Curriculum and Instruction Resource Center [plus teacher blog]
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